mainframe

American  

[meyn-freym] / ˈmeɪnˌfreɪm /

noun

Computers.

1. a large computer, often the hub of a system serving many users.

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mainframe British  

/ ˈmeɪnˌfreɪm /

noun

1. 1. a high-speed general-purpose computer, usually with a large storage capacity

   2. ( as modifier )

      mainframe systems

2. the central processing unit of a computer

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mainframe Scientific  

/ mān′frām′ /

1. A large, often powerful computer, usually dedicated to lengthy, complex calculations or set up for use by many people simultaneously.

2. Compare personal computer

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mainframe Cultural  

1. A large, powerful computer system. A mainframe computer typically carries out complex calculations and is shared by many users. (Compare personal computer.)

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Etymology

Origin of mainframe

First recorded in 1960–65; main ¹ + frame

Compare meaning

How does mainframe compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mainframe vs. supercomputer

Example Sentences

They include a nugget from the California gold rush; an 1879 lightbulb by Thomas Edison; a mainframe component from ENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer that was built in 1946 and weighed 30 tons.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

“It was a shot to the heart and the chest and the mainframe with Luka,” James told reporters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

He views the mainframe business as “resilient” given examples from IBM of how customers are growing, not shrinking, their workloads.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

“The idea of shifting off of mainframe is not a new concept,” Daryanani concluded.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

But Pembroke knew exactly whom to call: those high school kids from Lakeside who had been running up thousands of hours of computer time on the ISI mainframe.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• PC
• data processor
• desktop computer
• personal computer